NEW DELHI: America's loss is turning out to be India's gain. Within days of announcing 30,000 job-cuts in the US, automobile giant General Motors Corp will this week unveil plans to increase its workforce in India by nearly 30%.

(READ THIS - GM cutting over 3,600 Canadian jobs at Ontario plants, 30,000 in North America )

The carmaker has decided to add 450 jobs at its existing plant in Halol (Gujarat) as part of plans to expand presence in India - the emerging low-cost automobile hub in the east.

"GM is going on a hiring spree in India, and it's add jobs both on the factory shop-floor as well in the executive cadre. GM will this week start the process to hire 450 additional people for its India venture," a senior head-hunter told The Times of India.

While it will increase its floor-worker force by 400, another 50 are being added in its executive cadre. "This is in line with the company's plans to expand its presence in India, which GM feels will drive future growth," the source said.

GM India today has close to 1,600 people on its rolls, including nearly 1,300 on the shop-floor. With GM now preparing to drive into the volume car market in January 2006, the firm is working towards expanding its workforce in the country.

The car maker plans to roll out the premium hatchback Aveo in India in January next year, followed by an entry-level mid-sized sedan version of the car. It will also introduce a hatchback version of its hot-seller Chevrolet Optra in India by mid-2006.

In addition, the firm plans to add another 4,000 jobs in India when it sets up its second greenfield car plant.

The car maker has already shortlisted Andhra Pradesh, tamil Nadu and Maharashtra as the probable sites for its second plant, which will produce the Chevrolet Spark (a rebadged Daewoo Matiz), an all-new SUV and a sedan.